Transatlantic - Pros & Cons

[Sequim88]

Been awhile since we've planned a cruise so I've not posted in a long time. But CC is just too darned useful to not ask questions at...

 

So, we are weighing a really decently priced but long Transatlantic cruise on Celebrity againt a Baltic cruise for our 30th anniversary. We've never really thought about a crossing/re-positioning cruise but it really looks like a bargain. What's the hitch?

 

Also what are some of the pros & cons of such a trip? Do the "at sea" days get boring? Or are they a chance to relax before encountering port stops? Are all the other services the same as other cruises? Or do they do "moving maintenance" in-route?

 

And specifically how is Celebrity for this type of itinerary?

 

Thanks.

[Karynanne]

We've done two Transatlantics, and love them. There really isn't a "hitch". You do have to be the type of person that enjoys their sea days. There are always things to do, i.e., spa treatments, trivia, visiting with friends, reading, the casino, or just relaxing.

 

These cruises actually become "crossings". The atmosphere is different. It's leisurely (not boring), and you completely unwind.

 

Karyn

[bubbie617]

If you are looking into a TA, you need to be prepared to relax! The days at sea are rather lazy (for me), but they're never boring. There's enough to do if I want something to do. I often just want to watch the ocean go by from my balcony and read a little (or a lot). The only hitch is that you generally see less places on a TA than you will with a Baltics cruise. Services during the TA were the same as any other trip.

 

We did the Baltics last June and it was amazing. It is a much more port intensive itinerary and you need really good walking shoes. Although we are both approaching 60, it was not too active for us; it probably won't be for you as well.

 

You need to decide if you want a vacation or a trip. The TA is more of a vacation ( relaxing); the Baltics is much more of a trip that you need a vacation after. I'm not sorry we did the Baltics. On the contrary, it was probably the most exciting trip we've ever done.

 

We liked the TA so much that we're doing another one in March. It's a different itinerary than the first one, and we are looking forward to those wonderful sea days. We'll need to rest up before our Med cruise in May. ;)

[Petert]

Hi Sequim,

 

We have been on a half dozen TA cruises, and have found them to be a great way to really enjoy the ship board experience in a relaxing way. there are basically two routes for the TA cruises. The northern route can be cold and feature some pretty rough weather, but some itinerarys can present some very interesting port calls. The southern route features warmer weather and much smoother sailing. We found that the for us the Celebritie's Millennium class ships were great for these longer cruises. Celebrity has a very good enrichment program that includes some excellent lecture series on a variety of subjects, that had us looking forward to the afternoons on the sea days. They also have a nice theater for recent films, which are also shown in the main theater at times.

 

On most TA cruises the roll call board is very active, and the CC are much more interested in getting together and sharing experiences. We have joined groups of CC members that have organized precruise transfers, hotel arrangements and pub crawls. On the southern route you will the use of the pool for most of the cruise, while the northern route may be to cold. But then the solarium is a great place to relax.

 

If you'r not to worried about four or five sea days in a row, and you enjoy cruising, I am sure that you will find this a great experience.

 

petert

[goofysmom99]

Once you take a TA, you very well could get hooked on them! I've noticed on these boards how many folks have umty-ump TA cruises in their histories. The average pax on a TA is an experienced cruiser so you'll notice a different feel. With almost 30 cruises under our belts, we were the newbies at our table on one of our early TAs. We did the Baltic in '99 and it still ranks as our favorite cruise. Good luck choosing - either would be wonderful!

[Sequim88]

Thanks all this is exactly what I was looking for. A little more background....for several years we were planning the Baltic for last summer for our 30th and intended to add a week of driving around Sweden...my wife's "native land". Then our sons both decided to get married last summer so we postponed it to 2008. Then our daughter got engaged and set a summer of 2009 date. At least the sons were relatively inexpensive but we have to save for DD's big day. On top of it all the dollar exchange rate has tanked making the land portion (on top of a cruise) prohibitive. When we saw the Miami-Rome 16 day for $699 (inside) it sounded pretty good as a compromise except for the initial 6 days at sea. I would sort of look forward to doing nothing for a week.

 

The Baltic itinerary we were looking at is Stockholm to London (Harwich) and is $2,299 for an inside. Quite a difference. Airfare is about a wash between the two. So we have some hard chocies to make. We can do a land only trip to Sweden-Norway in a few years and miss only the cities on the east side of the Baltic but my wife was sort of set on seeing them too.

 

One other question about a TA trip...our only prior cruise was to Alaska so the only real "open water" we've been on was crossing the Gulf up there. The ship (HAL-Veendam) rocked a bit but it didn't bother either of us too much. Even in calm weather will there be a lot of noticible motion crossing that far south? Wife is physically disabled and has balance issues even on land.

[hajekfam]

We like the westbound transatlantic - Europe to the US - that occurs in the fall. With that one, your active touring ports (in Europe) are at the beginning of the cruise with the sea days at the end to rest up after all the ports. We have done the Barcelona to Ft Lauderdale fall transatlantic 4 times already and never tire of it. Our transatlantics have ranged from September to December - the weather has fortunately always been good and the seas calm. This year's trans in December (the one that left the latest in the year) was the warmest of all four. So temperature and weather are not predicatable.

This year, we did the best of both types of cruising as a retirement celebration for us - a back to back Mediteranean and a transatlantic for 28 days.

[Druke I]

We've done some half dozen trans-Atlantics, and love them. Have another booked Mar 08, Miami to Barcelona, on Oceania's Regatta. We've also done several trans-Pacifics, and love those also.

 

Although the next trip is eastbound, we actually prefer westbound, as the clock works to your advantage. 25 hr days are easier to take than 23 hr days.

 

All that said, the Baltic is a great region to cruise.

[bobbyleduck]

We just completed the West Bound Trans Atlantic aboard Millennium, 12/2/07, which was the same one that Karen (hajekfam) was on. We had a great time. I don't think it really matters which way you go, but I certainly enjoyed those six 25-hour days. Our cruise was 14 days, so you'll make up for it with the extra two days. By the way, we had an inside cabin and I don't think we missed a thing. Of course, we made friends with a lot of Cruise Critic people and had plenty of friends with big FOV cabins to visit. Get on that roll call and start planning the parties.

 

The sea days are great. When we finished our five days, I found myself wishing we had five more. Good luck.

 

Happy cruising to all!

 

Bob

[Blazerboy]

The biggest advantage of an Eastbound crossing is that you arrive in Europe relaxed and ready to tour, not to recover for two wasted days in an expensive hotel room after a long flight! But I agree with everyone that Westbound are lovely,too, as you don't have the long flight home, and really do relax on those 25 hour days.

 

I guess I'm closing in on 15 of them, so I'm certainly biased in favor of the TA, but I do admit to really wanting to do the Baltic Cruise...one idea/fantasy I have is being able to do back-to-back Baltic cruisies so that I can alternate the days relaxing on the ship with intensive touring days, but not kill myself trying to do port after port each day...we just did a Med cruise of 11 days with 9 ports, and were exhausted by the end....GIVE ME MY SEA DAYS, AND NO ONE GETS HURT!:D

 

Andrew

[croftonbill]

our favourite cruise ever was the RCCL.jewel of the seas repositioner from harwich to boston.followed the titanic route,only three days at sea,and great itinerary.

[Cruising Carol]

If you have available time, you might do both back to back. We did that in 2005. The TA was inexpensive and not much more than airfare from LA to London. We found an inexpensive flight to Fort Lauderdale and an inexpensive hotel in Fort Lauderdale that had a shuttle from airport and to the pier. We used RCCL's transfer and air from England. It was a wonderful 26 night cruise. Of course, we do enjoy sea days.

[travelinglion]

Sequimm88:

 

I was on the 12/2 TA with bobbleduck (bobby) and Karen. It was a great trip. This was my very first cruise (anywhere) and I even travelled by myself. Alot of thanks to CC for making it so much fun....and Bobby is a great table mate. He can give you lessons on saving money!!!!

 

Anyway, I jumped right into the cruising experience by choosing a TA for 14 nights. I was never bored...I did get a little antsy around the 3rd night of our 5 days at see. But going westbound, those sea days are towards the end of the cruise and you don't want the trip to end. Usually, they will stop at a tropical port for a day so you can get off the boat and stretch your legs. Whereas Bobby had an inside cabin, I splurged and paid for a balcony. I LOVED IT. I don't think I will cruise again without one. I was able to get a lounge chair and actually get a little sun while sitting on the balcony. Sitting on the balcony every afternoon watching nothing but the sea for 5 days was nice. The rocking of the ship was never so bad that it made me sick. Oh the one thing you might get a little tired of on the sea days is all the food....morning, noon, afternoon and night.

 

Good luck making your choice.

 

Sylvia H.

 

p.s. Sorry Bobby about your football loss

[bobbyleduck]

Sequimm88:

 

p.s. Sorry Bobby about your football loss

 

Ah, yes. The Buckeyes lost, but the DUCKS won their bowl game. I'm happy, glad that there is a little rest before the next season begins, am excited for the Seahawks and Patriots, and am looking forward to our next cruise. Don't know when, but as soon as Danielle gives me the OK, let the planning begin. Next trip is four days for business in Las Vegas. I don't gamble, but it's still a fun city.

 

Happy cruising to all!

 

Bob

[excitedofharpenden]

I did my first Transatlantic westbound last year on Constellation and loved it. We took the shorter, more northerly route and whilst there was some rough weather on the way, I personally thought the ship handled it very well and the stabilisers did their job during the day.

 

There was something special about doing a "crossing". There was a different feel to the cruise somehow and John Maxtone-Graham's lectures on the sea days added to the enjoyment. I love sea days and was quite ready for our three together, having done six days of touring in a row at the start (including pre-cruise).

 

The extra hours were great, but then I had to give them all back when I took the return flight:rolleyes:

 

The Atlantic is fickle, so even taking a more southerly route might mean some rough seas, but generally the chances are less. If you are worried about the movement for your wife, I would most definitely pick a cabin midship. The pitch (forward to aft motion) was more pronounced than the roll (side to side) in the heavier seas and it was noticably less bouncy toward the middle.

 

Phil

[jbar]

We did our first transatlantic this year on Celebrity and loved it. I was really concerned that after a few days at sea we would want to jump overboard, but it was a 17 day cruise (I believe 7 days at sea) and I could have gone longer. This was in spite of code red on the ship! We did have a balcony which made it enjoyable.

 

Would love to know how you found the 16 day for 699. I've searched and the only one I can find is Galaxy, and it seems to be sold out other then Suites. Please let me know if you don't mind, I liked it so much we would do another!

[sasset]

We love transatlantics. Westbounds are usually a little more relaxing in that most of your sea days are at the end. Maybe one or two stops in the Carribbean if any stops at all. Eastbounds are front loaded with the sea days and then often have five or six ports in a row at the end.

 

Regards

[Host Walt]

We love transatlantics. Westbounds are usually a little more relaxing in that most of your sea days are at the end. Maybe one or two stops in the Carribbean if any stops at all. Eastbounds are front loaded with the sea days and then often have five or six ports in a row at the end.

 

Regards

Relaxing also because of the clock.

 

The one best part of westbounds is that each day at sea is 25, not 24 hours a day. I love the idea of gaining an hour a day compared with the eastbounds where we get only 23 hours a day at sea.

[Parrot Mom]

There is no doubt we love T/A... we have gone on three, two on Celebrity and there is nothing like the days at sea by the pool to relax...next day or two days later a port.. I myself except for Boston to Bermuda will never do a seven day trip again..This cruise the water was like glass and the air temp around the pool 80 and up...pure joy. Sadly the ports this trip werent as great, but what the devil.. As they say.. a day on a cruise is better than a day at work

[CathyCruises]

The biggest advantage of an Eastbound crossing is that you arrive in Europe relaxed and ready to tour, not to recover for two wasted days in an expensive hotel room after a long flight! But I agree with everyone that Westbound are lovely,too, as you don't have the long flight home, and really do relax on those 25 hour days.

 

I guess I'm closing in on 15 of them, so I'm certainly biased in favor of the TA, but I do admit to really wanting to do the Baltic Cruise...one idea/fantasy I have is being able to do back-to-back Baltic cruisies so that I can alternate the days relaxing on the ship with intensive touring days, but not kill myself trying to do port after port each day...we just did a Med cruise of 11 days with 9 ports, and were exhausted by the end....GIVE ME MY SEA DAYS, AND NO ONE GETS HURT!:D

 

Andrew

 

You've got that right, Andrew--a fabulous cruise, but exhausting!! Especially front loaded like that, where the first 5 days were Barcelona, Marseille, Nice, Florence and Rome!! I was so grateful for the respite in Corsica! As were my feet!

 

I've never even considered a TA, but the price is sure great--I guess in part because of no port fees to pay. Right now, with snow nonstop and the temp hovering at about 20, ANY getaway sounds wonderful. I've just got to get something on the books!

 

Cathy

[MEcruzr]

Okay... here's another point of view. LOL I was on the eastbound TA out of FLL last April (Connie). By the time we hit Ireland I felt like kissing the dock. I could NOT wait to get off. I found the sea days boring and repetitive. A sea day between ports I love... chance to kick back, relax in the sun, no schedule to keep. But I have to say, I was not a happy trans-Atlanter. It was too cold and windy to sit on the balcony or spend any time outside. My mom (I travel with her) LOVED it, though. So much that she booked another TA in September... westbound this time. Guess who will be her travel companion??? Uh huh. Guess who will be better prepared this time??

 

FWIW, I really thought I would love a TA cruise. Not so much.

[Parrot Mom]

We have always done West t/a and you are not the first person to say they were exhausted when they flew home. You gain an hour each day going from Europe and if your lucky have a day at sea before you have to fly home. Plus we have had seas like glass and warm, warm weather... enough to have four or five days at sea by the pool and in the jacuzzi reading, doing crossword puzzles or just dozing..

[Parrot Mom]

Casablanca folks is a problem...I will tell you honestly that DON'T COUNT ON IT!!! Although all travel brochures are advertising trips to CASA ...the cruise ships haven't stopped there and I'm not sure if they will in Sept. Instead we were taken to Cartegena, Spain...I'd rather of been in Cartegena, Colombia.. and if they change it to Agadir...in protest I'd stay on the ship.. Meanwhile.. as they say.. back at the ranch.. I haven't booked the trip yet..lol

[negc]

Okay... here's another point of view. LOL I was on the eastbound TA out of FLL last April (Connie). By the time we hit Ireland I felt like kissing the dock. I could NOT wait to get off. I found the sea days boring and repetitive. A sea day between ports I love... chance to kick back, relax in the sun, no schedule to keep. But I have to say, I was not a happy trans-Atlanter. It was too cold and windy to sit on the balcony or spend any time outside. My mom (I travel with her) LOVED it, though. So much that she booked another TA in September... westbound this time. Guess who will be her travel companion??? Uh huh. Guess who will be better prepared this time??

 

FWIW, I really thought I would love a TA cruise. Not so much.

You may find that you enjoy your westbound TA more than you did the eastbound. Most of your ports of call, if you do the northern route, will take place early in the cruise and you will have the sea days towards the end to recover from all of that running around and sightseeing. There was more than enough for us to do on last year's Connie and while we encountered rough seas for a portion of the time and high winds kept us docked in St. John's, Newfoundland overnight, the weather in the ports was mostly warm and sunny.:)

[powelweb]

Hi Parrot Mom,

 

We also live in Marlboro- over by the mall.

 

I'm looking forward to my first TA this spring, which will be an eastbound.

 

We're staying 2 days in london, so hopefully no jet lag effects.

 

happy sailings,

wendy